Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan backs fellow Germans Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to shine after their slow starts at Chelsea as he admits ‘it’s not easy’ to adapt to the Premier League
- Ilkay Gundogan expects progress from Timo Werner and Kai Havertz at Chelsea
- The expensive new signings have underperformed since arriving in the summer
- Fellow German Gundogan has admitted that he needed time to settle in England
- Gundogan and Manchester City visit Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has predicted that Chelsea summer signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz will prove themselves in the Premier League.
Chelsea are yet to see the best of the Germany internationals since spending £142million on the Bundesliga pair in the summer, and countryman Gundogan believes that their gradual adaptation to the Premier League is ‘normal’.
Discussing Chelsea ahead of City’s trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Gundogan told Sky Sports: ‘They have two new German players who have tried to adapt as well as possible.
Kai Havertz (left) and Timo Werner have taken time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League
Manchester City midfielder and fellow German Ilkay Gundogan has backed the pair to shine
‘In general, I think it’s not easy to adapt quickly to the Premier League when you come from a different country and now, with the situation going on, I think it’s just even harder.
‘So I think it’s quite normal that they are struggling a little bit, but they both have incredible talent and I’m sure they will both be able to prove it in this league.’
Werner was second only to Bayern Munich goal machine Robert Lewandowski as the potent forward struck 28 goals for RB Leipzig last season.
Despite that formidable record, the 24-year-old has scored only four times in the Premier League so far this season after agreeing a £175,000-a-week deal in a £53million move in July.
Werner has not scored in his last eight Premier League games, providing five assists this term
Havertz – who joined for around £71m – was regarded as the brightest prospect in the German top flight at Bayer Leverkusen, but has started only three of Chelsea’s last seven Premier League matches.
The 21-year-old playmaker has not been directly involved in a goal in any of his last nine league matches and has gone three months without providing an assist.
Gundogan feels that Blues boss Frank Lampard invested his ample financial resources wisely in the close season and has built a squad that will challenge for the title.
He said: ‘Like every year, Chelsea have a great squad with incredible players.
‘They got some really talented young recruits in the summer, spent a lot of money and got some really good players so I think they will do well.
‘They are also a team that struggles like everyone does but they have a lot of quality and it’s going to be a great game on Sunday.’
Chelsea are chasing a first win in three games as part of an unconvincing run of one win in six